SOURCE: AFI
In a significant escalation of Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a rebel group opposing the military junta, claimed responsibility for shooting down a Myanmar Air Force FTC-2000G fighter jet in Sagaing Region on June 10, 2025. The incident, which occurred in Pale Township, marks a notable setback for the junta’s air operations and highlights the growing capability of resistance forces to challenge the military’s aerial dominance. This follows reports of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) downing two junta aircraft in Kachin State last month, signaling a rising threat to the Myanmar Air Force’s control of the skies.
According to Ni Ni Kyaw, General Secretary of the PLA, the group’s fighters shot down the FTC-2000G at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 10, 2025, during a fierce battle for control of the Kan Dauk police station in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, located 39 miles southwest of Monywa. The jet, identified as a Chinese-made FTC-2000G light combat aircraft, was reportedly conducting retaliatory airstrikes against PLA and other resistance forces in the area. Ni Ni Kyaw stated that the military had dropped hundreds of bombs in Pale Township over the past week to support ground troops engaged in clashes with resistance groups. The PLA released video and images of the jet’s smoking wreckage in Sabarse village, showing the aircraft crashed into a monastery, though casualty details were not disclosed.
The Myanmar junta, through state-run media, attributed the crash to mechanical failure, a claim consistent with their narrative in previous incidents. However, the PLA’s assertion, backed by visual evidence, has been widely reported by independent media outlets like The Irrawaddy and Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), lending credibility to the rebel group’s claim. The downing of the FTC-2000G underscores the increasing effectiveness of resistance forces in countering the junta’s air superiority, a key tactical advantage in the civil war that began after the February 2021 military coup.
Sagaing Region, located in northwest Myanmar near the Indian border, has emerged as a stronghold of armed resistance against the junta. The region has seen intense fighting since the 2021 coup, with pro-democracy groups like the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) mounting coordinated attacks against military targets. The PLA, reformed after the coup as the armed wing of the Communist Party of Burma, has been active in Sagaing, northern Shan, Mandalay, Magway, and Tanintharyi regions, often collaborating with other resistance groups.
The junta has relied heavily on airstrikes to suppress resistance, targeting civilian areas, schools, and infrastructure with devastating consequences. A May 2025 airstrike in Sagaing, for instance, killed up to 20 students and two teachers at a school, drawing international condemnation. The military’s use of Chinese and Russian-supplied aircraft, including the FTC-2000G, has enabled it to conduct frequent and deadly air raids, particularly in areas like Sagaing where ground operations face stiff resistance. However, the loss of aircraft to rebel forces is eroding this advantage.
The PLA’s claim follows a similar incident last month, when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) reported downing two junta aircraft in Kachin State. On May 20, 2025, the KIA shot down a military logistics helicopter en route to the junta’s Military Operations Command (MOC 21) headquarters in Bhamo Township. The KIA also claimed to have downed another aircraft earlier in May, though specifics were not provided. These incidents, combined with the PLA’s recent success, indicate that resistance groups are increasingly equipped to target junta aircraft, likely using portable surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) or small-arms fire.
The KIA’s earlier downing of an FTC-2000G on January 16, 2024, in Namhpatkar, northern Shan State, further demonstrated the vulnerability of the junta’s air assets. That incident, confirmed by the KIA and reported by The Irrawaddy, involved the death of two pilots, including Major Kaung Htet San. The use of Chinese-supplied FN-6 MANPADS by the KIA in a January 2024 helicopter shoot-down suggests that resistance groups may have access to advanced anti-aircraft weaponry, a game-changer in a conflict where the junta has historically dominated the skies.
The FTC-2000G, manufactured by China’s Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation (GAIC), is a light multi-role trainer and combat aircraft derived from the Guizhou JL-9, used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Myanmar received its first batch of six FTC-2000G jets in November 2022, with a second batch of six delivered in August 2024, despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Priced at approximately $8.5 million per unit, the FTC-2000G is a cost-effective platform capable of carrying up to three tons of missiles, rockets, or bombs, making it ideal for close air support, reconnaissance, and airstrikes against ground targets. Its low-altitude operations, however, leave it vulnerable to MANPADS and ground fire, as evidenced by recent shoot-downs.
The junta’s acquisition of these jets, facilitated by arms dealer Dr. Naing Htut Aung in 2020, reflects Myanmar’s reliance on China for military hardware. The FTC-2000G has been deployed from airbases like Namhsan in Shan State, where pilots have undergone training to operate the aircraft. Its role in the junta’s escalating air campaign has drawn criticism, with reports indicating that Chinese-supplied jets have been used in deadly strikes on civilian targets, including schools and displacement camps.
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